A classic example of a one-run stayer, Ponder first achieved prominence when he won the 75thKentucky Derby at odds of 16-1. It was the last time a Calumet Farm entry went off at such long odds while the Jones boys (the father-and-son training team of Ben Jones and Horace “Jimmy” Jones) were running the show.

While the Derby was Ponder's first stakes win, the colt went on to show that his performance had been no fluke by winning five more major stakes in 1949, all at distances of 9 furlongs or more. The late-running colt was also a major stakes winner at 4 before retiring to the Calumet Farm stallion barn, where he begot 1956 Kentucky Derby and Belmont winner Needles before his premature death at age 12.

Race record

41starts, 14wins, 7seconds, 4thirds, US$541,275

1949:

Won Kentucky Derby (USA, 10FD, Churchill Downs)

Won American Derby (USA, 10FD, Washington Park; new track record 2:00-2/5)

Won Arlington Classic (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)

Won Jockey Club Gold Cup (USA, 16FD, Belmont)

Won Lawrence Realization (USA, 13FD, Belmont)

Won Peter Pan Handicap (USA, 9FD, Belmont)

2nd Belmont Stakes (USA, 12FD, Belmont)

2nd Whirlaway Stakes (USA, 8FD, Washington Park)

2nd Derby Trial (USA, 8FD, Churchill Downs)

3rd Narrangansett Special Handicap (USA, 9.5FD, Narragansett Park)

1950:

Won Santa Anita Maturity (USA, 10FD, Santa Anita)

Won Arlington Handicap (USA, 10FD, Arlington Park)

Won San Antonio Handicap (USA, 9FD, Santa Anita)

Won Tanforan Handicap (USA, 10FD, Tanforan)

Won Marchbank Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Tanforan)

2nd Thanksgiving Day Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Hollywood)

3rd San Pasqual Handicap (USA, 8.5FD, Santa Anita)

3rd Manhattan Handicap (USA, 12FD, Belmont)

Assessments

Ranked second to Capot among American 3-year-old males of 1949 by The Blood-Horse.

Ranked third behind Noor and Citation among American older males of 1950 by The Blood-Horse.

As an individual

A handsome bay horse, Ponder was smoothly made and had a strong, straight hind leg. He had a powerful closing kick but no tactical speed and invariably came from far off the pace.

Foaled in Kentucky, Ponder was bred and owned by Calumet Farm and was trained by Ben and Jimmy Jones. He stood at Calumet until his death from a twisted intestine in October 1958 and was buried in the farm's equine cemetery.

Pedigree notes

Ponder is inbred 5x5 to 1896 Oaks Stakes winner Canterbury Pilgrim. He is a half brother to Clardys (by Bull Lea), second dam of Venezuelan Group II winner Kacir and third dam of Venezuelan champion older female Kurtosis.

Ponder's dam Miss Rushin never raced. She is a half sister to Smoothy (by Jamestown), dam of juvenile stakes winner Smooth Stride (by King's Stride), and is out of the Sir Gallahad III mare Lady Erne, a full sister to 1933 Champagne Stakes winner Hadagal and to multiple stakes winner Pansy Walker, second dam of three stakes winners including the popular and classy gelding Social Outcast. Lady Erne is also a full sister to stakes-placed Romanesque, dam of 1947 Haggin Stakes winner Roman In (by Arigotal) and the minor stakes winner Witchlike (by Diavolo), and is a half sister to Gallerne (by Gallant Fox), dam of stakes winner Milkwagonjoe (by Chicstraw), and to Erne Castle (by Blenheim II), second dam of 1958 Longacres Mile winner Collaborator.

The next dam in Ponder's tail-female line, the White Eagle mare Erne, was imported to the United States as a yearling in 1922. She was produced from Orris, a daughter of 1907 Derby Stakes and Irish Derby winner Orby out of the Uncle Mac mare Aroon.

Ponder was the fourth of a record eight Kentucky Derby winners bred and owned by Calumet Farm. The others were Whirlaway (1941), Pensive (1944), Citation (1948), Hill Gail (1952), Iron Liege (1957), Tim Tam (1958) and Forward Pass (1968). The first five of this group were officially trained by Ben Jones, who had previously trained 1938 winner Lawrin and still holds the Kentucky Derby record for the most wins for a single trainer with six.

Ponder is part of a three-generation sequence of Kentucky Derby winners, as he was sired by 1944 winner Pensive and is the sire of 1956 winner Needles. The only other three-generation sequence in the history of the Derby runs from Reigh Count (1928) to Count Fleet (1943) to Count Turf (1951).

Ponder is also part of a six-generation sequence of horses that won races considered Classics in major racing nations. This sequence runs as follows: Bayardo (1909 St. Leger Stakes), Gainsborough (1918 English Triple Crown), Hyperion (1933 Derby Stakes and St. Leger Stakes), Pensive (1944 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes), Ponder (1949 Kentucky Derby) and Needles (1956 Kentucky Derby and Belmont Stakes).

In six races against Capot, who defeated him in voting for the 3-year-old championship, Ponder won three times and outfinished the Greentree Stable colt in the Derby Trial. In those four races, his average margin over Capot was over eight lengths, while Capot's total margin over him in the other two races was less than four lengths. Nonetheless, Capot won the title on the strength of his two Classic wins and two clear-cut victories over champion handicap male Coaltown.

Ponder ran the final quarter of his Kentucky Derby in about :23-4/5, still one of the better finishing runs on record for the great race.

Ponder's mark of 2:00-2/5 for the 1949 American Derby was believed to have been the fastest 10 furlongs by a 3-year-old up to that time. It was also the third consecutive time that the 10-furlong mark at Washington Park had been lowered by a Calumet Farm runner, the previous two record holders having been Armed and Fervent.

Ponder's earnings of US$541,275 made him the leading earner of the 1946 American foal crop.